Technical Exchange

Walter Henry, column editor

Pottery Mending Clamp

There is a simple and effective
way to eliminate the harshness of metal clamps and the awkwardness
of small loose pieces of padding that are often needed when mending
pottery vessels. Metal clamps are often necessary in holding joins
together as the adhesive sets. However, these clamps tend to deface
surface decorations. For the reassembly of large archaeological
vessels at the Arizona State Museum, the following clamp proved to
be an easy, useful and inexpensive alternative to a variety of metal
clamps. The clamp consists of a carriage or eye bolt, a nut, 2 soft
rubber washers, 2 thin metal fender washers, 2 disks cut from closed
cell polyethylene foam (e.g. Plastazote or Voltek, available from
packaging houses), and a wing nut. The size of the foam can be
varied to accommodate different areas of coverage. The washers add
additional support to the foam which will conform somewhat as the
clamp is tightened. This is particularly useful in securing mends
where sherds are missing and there is a strong curve to the
vessel.

This simple clamp has one other nice feature: it's cheap.

Michelle Hebert, Arizona State Museum

Hot Tip

Inspired by Fonda Thomsen's article "Hot
Melting Cutting of Stabiltex" [JAIC 27 (1988):32-37],
which describes simultaneously cutting and hot melting the edges of
polyester Stabiltex to avoid fraying, we sought a cheaper hot tip
than the one recommended. Other textile conservators commented that
the pen recommended in the article did not always give a smooth cut
on curved edges. Delaware textile conservator Nancy Lee Papay
suggested trying a Mylar cutter designed for making quilt stencils.
At $31.95 one could hardly lose. For the Arizona State Museum's NSF
sponsored Archaeological Textile Conservation Project, we ordered
the stencil cutter with the fine tips and found this tool marvelous
for cutting Stabiltex for backings (which were applied to the
textiles with sewing techniques). By plugging the stencil cutter
into a rheostat we could set the temperature control.

The rheostat is Hot Tool, Inc.'s Dial Temp, which is part of a
tape removal kit distributed by University Products (#425-1005).

Nancy Odegaard & Vicki Cassman, Arizona
State Museum, Tucson

Environmental Monitor

Exeter Environmental Systems offer the Hanwall Monitor, a data
logger which provides recording measurement of temperature,
humidity, lux, UV power, cumulative lux, and cumulative UV. Coupled
with a separate handset via an infrared communication link (for a
cable-free system) or through the serial port, it can communicate
with a central pc, for environmental monitoring in a building or
display case. It is possible to preset alarm levels so that
out-of-range temperature at the remote location will trigger an
alarm. Included in the cost of the unit is software that both
controls the devices and provides graphical and statistical
output.

Elvace

For some time now, book conservators have reported difficulty
obtaining Elvace 1875, a popular Vinyl Acetate-Ethylene Copolymer.
Fortunately, Reichold reports that you can purchase Elvace 40705-00
directly from Reichold, even in 5 gallon quantities. For quantities
less than 55 gallons, the price is $2.705 per wet pound. You will
need to pay for shipping. 5 gallon quantities ship via UPS.

A little historical note that may help clarify a common
misunderstanding. Back in the days when Elvace was produced by
Dupont, many book people were fond of Elvace 1874. When Reichold
took over production they eliminated 1874, but kept 1875, which
differs from the other product only in that it is of slightly higher
viscosity. At this time 1875 was renumbered 40705-00.

The product bulletin provides the following description of Elvace
40705-00.